All the research and recommendations from transportation officials nationwide have led Florida legislators to propose six distracted driving bills this legislative season. Critical research that may have influenced these bills includes:

35 states have already banned text messaging.

The National Safety Council estimates that drivers texting or using cell phones have caused approximately 28 percent of all U.S. crashes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 3,092 traffic fatalities were caused from distracted driving accidents, which is about 9.4 percent of traffic deaths nationwide in 2010.

The National Transportation Safety Board recently recommended that all states should ban drivers from using all portable electronic devices.

The information above has led to the following six proposed distracted driving bills in Florida, including:

Senate Bill 416 – this bill, supported by Senator Nancy Detert, has been cleared by two committees so far and would prohibit text messaging while driving in Florida.

Senate Bill 122 – this bill would require driving schools to focus on distracted driving risks during the course of its content.

Senate Bill 930 – this bill would require driving schools to include distracted driving dangers in its content, and would prohibit drivers age 18 and younger from using handheld cell phones.

House Bill 299 – this bill is the twin bill of Senate Bill 416 and seeks to outlaw text messaging while driving in Florida.

House Bill 187 – this bill would ban handheld cell phones and text messaging for drivers age 18 and younger, as well as for school bus drivers.

House Bill 39 – this bill discusses the fines for using electronic devices behind the wheel.

If officials pass a bill that restricts or bans the use of cell phones while driving, Florida drivers may see a reduction in the number of Sarasota auto accidents and crashes throughout Florida, says a concerned Sarasota accident attorney at the Mallard Law Firm. Contact us today if you have questions regarding a distracted driving crash at (888) 409-3805 for a complimentary consultation.